Polyester
I was a teenager in the sixties and seventies, so I know a thing or two about polyester. That’s right. Polyester. The wonder fabric. Why would a teen be interested in fabric? Because this teen’s father taught in the School of Textiles at the local university. Daddy was quick to examine the fibers in any new article of clothing in order to instruct me on its proper care. On one shopping trip with my parents, I tripped over my father as I came out of the dressing room. He was on his knees, examining the fibers in the carpet. No need to wonder about the source of my OCD. In 1974, one of Daddy’s students designed a fabric to honor North Carolina State University for being number one in every sport that year. The fabric was manufactured at a...
Lifts
A large billboard on the main drag in Destin advertises: Brazilian Lifts—starting at $6,900. Hmmmm. Surprising and interesting. As old and wrinkled as my butt is, though, I imagine it would cost at least $6,900 for one cheek, much less my entire butt.
Professional
I’m an accountant, a CPA. I work as the office administrator for a church where most people are young, tattooed artists who wear lots of denim and trendy hats. I have complete freedom in dressing for work and I’ve learned that jeans and hiking boots are much more comfortable than suits and heels. But there was a time when I had to embrace the professional look. Long ago. Back when I worked for the IRS. That’s right. The Internal Revenue Service, my employer of choice after graduating college. I had a passion for tax law, so it was the perfect job for me. I had difficulty being taken seriously, though. I look a bit young for my age and, with my long hair, well, let’s just say that most people thought I was sixteen rather than...
Failure
As a student, I believed I failed any time I didn’t make 100 on a test. Perfectionists are hard on themselves. By the time I got to the CPA exam though, in my twenties, I had seen the error of my ways and was thrilled to simply pass, never mind a perfect score. My definition of failure changed. It no longer meant missing the bull’s eye by a hair; it now meant missing the entire target. I expected that would never happen to me. Health problems caused me to do an intense study of nutrition and alternative medicine, so in my forties, armed with a Doctor of Naturopathy degree, I decided to pursue a profession that I expected to do more for my community than any of my accounting skills. I opened an office, with my name, Karen H. Curran, ND, on the sign,...
Safety
Are we ever really safe? What is safety, after all? Hiking my favorite North Carolina mountain trails last week renewed many memories. One particular incident occurred so long ago I don’t know exactly where it was (possibly Linville Falls) or my age (maybe six or seven.) It was a damp trail, dropping off to a river on one side, but with a rock wall rising on the other. Water seeped from the wall, making muddy, damp sections along the way. It was a perfect environment for salamanders, and I saw several scurrying nearby. I have always loved reptiles and amphibians, an interest that was nurtured by my father. Whenever he found a creature in our garden, he would show it to me with such delight that I began to delight in them as well. Frogs, snakes,...
Mica
During a hike on Whiteside Mountain in Highlands, North Carolina, the mica I saw shining from rock after rock along the trail brought back sweet memories. My family camped on vacations when I was a child, exploring hundreds of trails in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains along the way. I was always dazzled by what seemed to be diamonds in the rocks but which, at some point, I grew to know as the mineral mica. The mica specks were flat and smooth and, if you found a large enough piece, you could pull off flakes, in perfect, smooth little sheets. Fascinating stuff. Endless treasures along the trail. I often tried to take some of the beauty home with me, slipping the most striking rocks in my pockets as we walked. I would arrange these on a shelf in my room, be...
Confirmed
My oldness is confirmed. I played the piano for old people at Morningside Assisted Living this morning. My friend, Lori, and her two little ones, Lucas and Anna, joined me. One-year-old Anna got a bit fussy so, in an effort to cheer her, I smiled and waved each time she looked in my direction…just like the hundred-year-old women sitting on the couch to my left. Smile and wave. It’s what old folks do.
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